The Statesman Kolkata - February 02, 2025

In this issue

February 02, 2025

No income tax for income up to Rs 12 lakh

In a boost for the middle class, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Union Budget 2025, unveiled a major overhaul of the new income tax regime, introducing what in effect is a zero-income tax slab for taxpayers earning up to Rs 12 lakh annually.

1 min

Budget lays down 'Viksit Bharat' roadmap

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday presented an ambitious and growth-oriented Union Budget, providing major income tax relief to the middle class, boost to agriculture and laying a roadmap for 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.

2 mins

Budget a force multiplier, milestone in India's development journey: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the Union Budget as a force multiplier that would increase savings, investment, consumption, and growth.

1 min

Budget impact: Smartphones and EVs to get cheaper; TVs, fabrics to get costlier

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, presenting the Budget 2025-26 on Saturday, introduced some key changes in basic customs duties (BCDs) that will impact the prices of various goods.

1 min

Union Budget: A mixed bag of hopes and concerns

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista expressed strong support for the budget's focus on tourism and infrastructure, particularly in rural and underdeveloped regions

2 mins

Budget meaningless for middle class: Adhir Chowdhury

The Union Budget 2025 has sparked a political storm in West Bengal, with the state BJP hailing it as \"pro-people\" while the opposition Left and Congress have strongly criticised it, calling it \"anti-poor\" and a tool for electoral gains ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections and for upcoming elections in some states.

1 min

Corporate Houses Upbeat to Sitharaman's 8th Budget

Corporate houses in the city seem to have lapped up the Union Budget 2025.

2 mins

WBPCB Fine on Oil Major for Polluting Water Source

The state's pollution control authorities have slapped a Rs 10 lakh fine as bank guarantee against a multinational oil & natural gas giant operating here for 20 years for causing extensive contamination of the Kunur rivulet, the prime source of irrigation for dozens of villages in Kanksa and Laudoha blocks here.

2 mins

Fire at Esplanade eatery disrupts morning traffic

A massive fire broke out in a food stall at Esplanade this morning, causing major traffic disruption in the area.

1 min

Offer letters for 69 students at Utkarsh Bangla camp in Ranaghat

The Ranaghat sub-division administration recently organised a special Utkarsh Bangla Mobilisation Camp at the Ranaghat Employment Exchange office in Rath Tala.

1 min

9 Arrested For Defrauding ₹1.30 Crore

The Asansol cyber police station, under Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate (ADPC), has for the first time cracked a digital arrest case and has arrested nine persons involved in an international racket.

1 min

ER 37 pc growth in scrap sales: The Eastern Railway achieved a milestone in scrap sales by registering a growth of 37 per cent till 31 January of the current fiscal. The zonal railway has recorded a total cumulative scrap sale of rupees 444.43 crore as compared to Rs 323 crore during the same period of previous financial year of 2023-24.

At a time when the skyrocketing airfares for the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj have sparked a nationwide uproar, Air India Express has announced its \"Payday Sale\", offering travellers from Kolkata and other metropolitan city airports an opportunity to book budget-friendly flights, with fares starting as low as Rs 1,535.

1 min

Premier Kolkata medical institute Slapped With Show-Cause Notice by UGC

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has slapped a show-cause notice on Kolkata's iconic Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, often popularly referred to as the S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital for failure to submit an \"anti-ragging declaration\" lists from their students and their guardians to it.

1 min

Eastern Command hails Havildar conferred with Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak

The Indian Army's Eastern Command has stated that a Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) from its Gajraj Corps was awarded the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak on Republic Day this year for his exceptional act of bravery and selfless service.

1 min

Sebaashray camps start at Metiabruz

Sebaashray camps started at Metiabruz from today with 5.25 lakh people registering themselves since the inception of the initiative on 2 January.

1 min

Conspiracy to benefit international lobby

Amit Mitra, special adviser to the chief minister Mamata Banerjee on finance and a former state finance minister, today slammed the Centre for allegedly hatching \"a deep-rooted conspiracy to benefit the international lobby\" by presenting a Budget, which was nothing but to bring about further downfall of the common people and a \"budget of debacle\".

1 min

Tax concessions will accelerate both spending and savings: Economists

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's proposal to raise the minimum tax slab to Rs 12 lakh from Rs 7 lakh in the new regime in addition to Rs 75,000 of the standard deduction for salaried taxpayers will boost both expenditure and savings among the middle-class section of the Indian population, feel economists.

1 min

A Man for All Seasons

Subhas Roy, who passed away last night, nine months short of a century, was Kolkata's quintessential \"Man for all seasons\".

2 mins

Union Budget 2025: 200 Vande Bharat, 100 Amrit Bharat trains, 50 Namo Bharat to be manufactured

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for allocating the big amount of Rs 2,52,000 crore for the financial year (FY) 2025-26 as gross budgetary support to the Ministry of Railways, second time in a row.

1 min

Budget 2025: Significant boost for higher education

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget 2025-26 speech, emphasised the government's push for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education by announcing the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in AI for Education, with a dedicated budget of Rs 500 crore.

1 min

36 Life-Saving Drugs Fully Exempted From Basic Customs Duty

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Budget 2025-26 in Parliament on Saturday, announced exemption for 36 life-saving drugs from basic customs duty.

1 min

Government Announces 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs, 5 National Centres of Excellence for Skill Development

In a move aimed at cultivating the spirit of curiosity, innovation, and scientific temper among young minds, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced the establishment of 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs across government schools in the next five years.

1 min

Major boost for defence, border infrastructure

Pension Budget also saw a significant boost, with ₹1.61 lakh cr earmarked for FY 2025-26

2 mins

In poll year, Bihar emerges big winner in Union Budget

With Assembly elections likely to be held in Bihar in October-November, the NDA government at the Centre jumped into poll mode on Saturday with several big announcements made for the state in the Union Budget 2025-26.

1 min

Union Budget lays down roadmap for Viksit Bharat by 2047:

focusing on the poor (Garib), Youth, farmers (Annadata) and women (Nari).

1 min

Industry bodies, NSE term Budget 2025 transformative step towards realising ‘Viksit Bharat’

Industry bodies and National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) have termed the Union Budget 2025-26, presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, as a transformative step towards realising the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat,’ with a strong focus on the middle class, MSMEs, startups, and employment generation.

2 mins

Budget: Big infra push augurs well for India Inc

There has been a huge boost to 'Rural Infrastructure', aimed at bridging the rural-urban divide

2 mins

FM Sitharaman Announces Manufacturing Mission for Furthering 'Make in India'

A National Manufacturing Mission to cover small, medium, and large industries for furthering 'Make in India' was announced by Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget 2025-26 in Parliament on Saturday.

1 min

Government to Set Up 'Deep Tech Fund of Funds' for Next-Gen Startups: FM

Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced that the possibility of a 'Deep Tech Fund of Funds' will be explored to catalyse the next generation startups.

1 min

Sitharaman's Turn to Chant 'Dhan-Dhanya' Mantra

In her eighth Union Budget in a row, the Union Finance minister Nirmala focussed on 10 broad areas, the first engine of which is the agriculture sector.

2 mins

Middle-Class Relief

The Union Budget 2025-26 delivers a substantial T tax break to India's middle class, with the exemption threshold rising to Rs 12 lakh from Rs 7 lakh.

2 mins

Return of Oligarchs

Currently, when tax collections, both direct and indirect, and the Government's spending on infrastructure are at record levels, economists are suggesting that further growth of the economy will depend on a rise in consumption levels, and the time may have come for the Government to cut taxes so that people in the lower and middle brackets have more spending power. Not surprisingly, the Confederation of Indian Industry wants the government to 'focus on enhancing disposable incomes and stimulating spending to sustain economic momentum'

6 mins

Rethinking the Seven-College Conundrum

The recent clashes between Dhaka University (DU) students and those of the seven affiliated colleges reflect a crisis that is far more profound than administrative inefficiencies or infrastructural shortcomings.

2 mins

Tech Surge

For decades, the prevailing assumption in technology circles has been that the West, led by the United States, enjoys an unassailable dominance in advanced research and innovation.

2 mins

How far right will Germany go?

With only a few weeks until Germany's election, Elon Musk has unambiguously thrown his support behind the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

4 mins

Year of snakes, ladders

As China celebrates the Lunar Year of the Snake, the first angpow (red packet gift) was the DeepSeek AI software that shook Wall Street to the tune of nearly $1 trillion in market capitalization.

4 mins

Not a People-Centric Budget

Mallikarjun Kharge Called it 'directionless' & an attempt by the BJP government to fool the people

2 mins

Union Budget 2025-26 to be a milestone in realising the vision of 'Viksit Bharat': CM Yogi

Praising the Union Budget 2025-26, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that it includes significant provisions aimed at strengthening India's economy and improving the lives of common citizens.

1 min

'Heartbreaking' search for those killed in DC air crash as army helicopter's black box recovered

Police boats combed the banks of the Potomac River on Friday, slowly scanning the shoreline in the rain as investigators sought clues into the mid-air collision that killed 67 people and raised questions about air traffic safety around the nation's capital.

1 min

Sick and wounded children begin crossing from Gaza to Egypt in first opening in months

Agroup of 50 sick and wounded Palestinian children began crossing to Egypt for treatment through Gaza's Rafah crossing on Saturday, the first opening of the border since Israel captured it nearly nine months ago.

1 min

Trump administration fires prosecutors involved in 6 January cases

The Trump administration on Friday fired a group of prosecutors involved in the 6 January criminal cases and demanded the names of FBI agents involved in those same probes so they can possibly be ousted, moves that reflect a White House determination to exert control over federal law enforcement and purge agencies of career employees seen as insufficiently loyal.

1 min

Russian drone and missile attacks kill 5 in Ukraine

At least five people died overnight as Russian drone and missile strikes pounded Ukraine's towns and cities, local officials said Saturday.

1 min

Hamas Frees 3 Hostages and Israel Releases Palestinian Prisoners in 4th Exchange of Ceasefire

The releases were quick and orderly, in contrast to chaotic scenes that unfolded on Thursday when armed militants appeared to struggle to hold back a crowd during a hostage release

2 mins

Budget to re-energise economy, encourage investment in private sector: FICCI

The Union Budget proposals will re-energise the economy by uplifting the spirit of the middle class and encouraging the private sector to advance its investment plans as demand improves across sectors, FICCI president Harsha Vardhan Agarwal said on Saturday.

1 min

CM, BJP ministers must apologise: BRS on Budget

Slamming both national parties, the BRS today demanded an apology from the two Union ministers from BJP, the Congress MPs, and chief minister Revanth Reddy for failing to secure funds for Telangana in the Union Budget.

1 min

Kerala Totally Ignored in Union Budget

Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal on Saturday said that the state did not get fair consideration in the Central Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

1 min

MUDA Case Petitioner Complains to Police About Black Magic Against Him

In an interesting development, Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case petitioner Snehmayi Krishna complained to the Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal on Saturday alleging black magic against him by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's supporters.

1 min

AP Gets Funds for Polavaram and Steel Plant, Naidu Lauds Budget

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu hailed the Union Budget as \"pro-people\" and \"progressive,\" reflecting the vision for a Viksit Bharat under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

1 min

Enraged by property dispute, son sets house on fire in Kerala; aged parents die in blaze

In a fit of rage over a property dispute, a son set his house on fire in which his 92-year-old father and 90-year-old mother were burnt alive on Saturday morning.

1 min

'ICG is formidable guardian of our seas ensuring safety of people, waters'

PM Modi lauded the ICG for safeguarding our vast coastline with bravery, dedication

1 min

Kerala CM slams Union Budget 2025-26 for ignoring state's key demands

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly criticized the Union Budget 2025-26, stating that it has overlooked all major demands of the state, including a relief package for landslide-hit Wayanad and financial aid for the Vizhinjam port.

1 min

Karnataka BJP hails Union Budget, says it brought joy to people

Hailing the Union Budget 2025-26, presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Karnataka BJP on Saturday said that it brought joy to the countrymen.

1 min

Davis Cup: Ramkumar, Mukund shine as Indians dominate Togo

India made a strong start to their Davis Cup 2025 campaign on Saturday, taking a 2-0 lead over Togo on the opening day of the World Group I Playoffs at the DLTA complex here.

1 min

Galle Test: Lyon, Kuhnemann spin Australia to massive win

Spinners Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann shared the spoils as defending WTC champions Australia registered a massive win against Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs on Day Four of the first Test at the Galle Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

2 mins

Former India star Wriddhiman bids adieu to competitive cricket

Star wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha signed off from competitive cricket with a final appearance for Bengal, his state team ended their Ranji Trophy campaign with an innings victory over Punjab in their final group match at the Eden Gardens here on Saturday.

1 min

Women's U-19 T20 WC final: Defending champs India face spirited South Africa

Having won all their matches on the way to the summit clash, 'Women-in-Blue' start as overwhelming favourites

2 mins

Rana not a like-for-like replacement for Dube, says Buttler

England skipper Jos Buttler expressed his disappointment with India's decision to play Harshit Rana as concussion substitute for all-rounder Shivam Dube in the fourth T20I, staged at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Friday.

2 mins

Bodoland to See Major Infrastructural Boost in Tourism in Two Years

After four decades of ethnic conflict and loss of around 20,000 lives, the Bodoland region on the northern banks of the mighty Brahmaputra in Assam is limping back to normalcy, peace and harmony.

4 mins

College Street in retrospect: Culture, thought, and dissent

With the rapid modernisation and movement towards the digital, certain spaces become a material manifestation of culture and thought.

3 mins

Into the wild in the Sundarbans

\"But here, in the tide country, transformation is the rule of life: rivers stray from week to week, and islands are made and unmade in days. In other places forests take centuries, even millennia, to regenerate; but mangroves can recolonize a denuded island in ten to fifteen years. Could it be the very rhythms of the earth were quickened here so that they unfolded at an accelerated pace?\" - Amitav Ghosh, The Hungry Tide

6 mins

The strength of feminine tenderness

Despite years of struggle, the persistence of patriarchy is still the sad truth that we all live, and somehow absorb the tiniest of it every day.

3 mins

Instilling wisdom and conscience

Hindus believe that Goddess Saraswati is the deity of knowledge, wisdom, intellect, literature, music and arts.

2 mins

Read all stories from The Statesman Kolkata

The Statesman Kolkata Newspaper Description:

The Statesman Kolkata is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by The Statesman Net Pvt Ltd in Kolkata, India. It was founded in 1875 and is one of the oldest and most respected newspapers in India. The newspaper is known for its in-depth reporting, investigative journalism, and editorial independence.

The Statesman Kolkata covers a wide range of topics, including politics, business, economy, society, culture, and sports. It also has a strong focus on local news and events. The newspaper is known for its critical and independent reporting on the government and the powerful.

The Statesman Kolkata is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to stay informed about the latest news and developments in India, and especially in West Bengal. It is also a great way to get in-depth analysis and commentary on current affairs.